DOWN TO TWO: SVITOLINA v MERTENS

DOWN TO TWO: SVITOLINA v MERTENS

2017 TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup singles final will be played between Elina Svitolina and Elise Mertens.

Top seed Elina Svitolina put on another classy performance on the Garanti Koza Arena to reach her third final of the season. Coming to Istanbul after Fed Cup duty in Stuttgart, Svitolina had a three-setter in her opener but managed to find the rhythm in the next rounds.

World no. 13 needed 72 minutes as she eased past Jana Cepelova, who rallied back from a set and 2-5 down in the quarter-finals, 6-2, 6-3 while converting five of eleven break points. This was the fourth win in five matches for the Ukranian against Cepelova.

Svitolina will be playing for her second clay-court title at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup final. She’s won her first trophy on clay two years ago in Marrakesh defeating Timea Babos in the final.

RUTHLESS MERTENS ROUTS BEGUFans witnessed similar scenes also in the second semi-final as Elise Mertens had a very comfortable win over Irina-Camelia Begu. 21-year-old Belgian, who knocked out the defending champ Cagla Buyukakcay in the previous round, gave no chance to Begu on the road to the final.

Following her hard-fought victory in their first ever clash two months ago in Fed Cup, Mertens was ruthless this time sweeping past third seed Begu 6-1, 6-1. Mertens will be appearing in her second final. She was victorious in her maiden final in January in Hobart.

Mertens will also go for the doubles title in Istanbul alongside Nicole Melichar against Dalila Jakupovic/Nadiia Kichenok.